Hebrews 10
10
1The Law of Moses is like a shadow of the good things to come. This shadow isn't the good things themselves, because it cannot free people from sin by the sacrifices offered year after year. 2If there were worshipers who already have their sins washed away and their consciences made clear, there would not be any need to go on offering sacrifices. 3-4But the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. It only reminds people of their sins from one year to the next.
5 # Ps 40.6-8 (LXX). When Christ came into the world, he said to God,
“Sacrifices and offerings
are not what you want,
but you have given me
my body.
6No, you are not pleased
with animal sacrifices
and offerings for sin.”
7Then Christ said,
“And so, my God,
I have come to do
what you want,
as the Scriptures say.”
8The Law teaches that offerings and sacrifices must be made because of sin. But why did Christ mention these things and say that God did not want them? 9Well, it was to do away with offerings and sacrifices and to replace them. This is what he meant by saying to God, “I have come to do what you want.” 10So we are made holy because Christ obeyed God and offered himself once for all.
11 #
Ex 29.38. The priests do their work each day, and they keep on offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12#Ps 110.1. But Christ offered himself as a sacrifice that is good forever. Now he is sitting at God's right side,#10.12 right side: See the note at 1.3. 13and he will stay there until his enemies are put under his power. 14By his one sacrifice he has forever set free from sin the people he brings to God.
15The Holy Spirit also speaks of this by telling us that the Lord said,
16 #
Jr 31.33. “When the time comes,
I will make an agreement
with them.
I will write my laws
on their minds and hearts.
17 #
Jr 31.34. Then I will forget
about their sins
and no longer remember
their evil deeds.”
18When sins are forgiven, there is no more need to offer sacrifices.
Encouragement and Warning
19My friends, the blood of Jesus gives us courage to enter the most holy place 20by a new way that leads to life! And this way takes us through the curtain that is Christ himself.
21We have a great high priest who is in charge of God's house. 22#Lv 8.30; Ez 36.25. So let's come near God with pure hearts and a confidence that comes from having faith. Let's keep our hearts pure, our consciences free from evil, and our bodies washed with clean water. 23We must hold tightly to the hope we say is ours. After all, we can trust the one who made the agreement with us. 24We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things. 25Some people have given up the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord's coming is getting closer.
26No sacrifices can be made for people who decide to sin after they find out about the truth. 27#Is 26.11 (LXX). They are God's enemies, and all they can look forward to is a terrible judgment and a furious fire. 28#Dt 17.5-7; 19.15. If two or more witnesses accused someone of breaking the Law of Moses, that person could be put to death. 29#Ex 24.8. But it is much worse to dishonor God's Son and to disgrace the blood of the promise that made us holy. And it is just as bad to insult the Holy Spirit, who shows us mercy. 30#Dt 32.35; Dt 32.36. We know that God has said he will punish and take revenge. We also know that the Scriptures say the Lord will judge his people. 31It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God!
32Don't forget all the hard times you went through when you first received the light. 33Sometimes you were abused and mistreated in public, and at other times you shared in the sufferings of others. 34You were kind to people in jail. And you gladly let your possessions be taken away, because you knew you had something better, something that would last forever.
35Keep on being brave! It will bring you great rewards. 36Learn to be patient, so you will please God and be given what he has promised. 37#Hb 2.3,4 (LXX). As the Scriptures say,
“God is coming soon!
It won't be very long.
38The people God accepts
will live because
of their faith.#10.38 The people God accepts will live because of their faith: Or “The people God accepts because of their faith will live.”
But he isn't pleased
with anyone
who turns back.”
39We are not like those people who turn back and get destroyed. We will keep on having faith until we are saved.
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Hebrews 10
10
Christʼs Sacrifice Once for All
1The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming — not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
6with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
7Then I said, ‘Here I am — it is written about me in the scroll —
I have come to do your will, my God.’ ”#10:7 Psalm 40:6-8 (see Septuagint)
8First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them” — though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
15The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
16“This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.”#10:16 Jer. 31:33
17Then he adds:
“Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more.”#10:17 Jer. 31:34
18And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.
A Call to Persevere in Faith
19Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
26If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”#10:30 Deut. 32:35 and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”#10:30 Deut. 32:36; Psalm 135:14 31It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37For,
“In just a little while,
he who is coming will come
and will not delay.”#10:37 Isaiah 26:20; Hab. 2:3
38And,
“But my righteous#10:38 Some manuscripts But the righteous one will live by faith.
And I take no pleasure
in the one who shrinks back.”#10:38 Hab. 2:4 (see Septuagint)
39But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
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